Major Platform Extensions to Bluehill® 3

This is a release we and many of our customers have been waiting for. With release 3.51, lab managers can finally standardize on Bluehill® 3 for all their static tests across all our current static (Electromechanical, Static Hydraulic) and dynamic testing machines (Servo Hydraulic and ElectroPuls systems). Starting with 3.51, Bluehill® 3 can also be used to set up and run torsion tests on the MT Torsion line of testers. Apart from the platform extensions, this release also has some nice enhancements geared towards high temperature applications and metals testing.

Setpoints for multiple temperature controllers of a SF-16 furnace

To ensure uniform heating along the length of the specimen, heating furnaces like the SF-16 model are equipped with multiple heating elements to cover the length of the specimen. Each of the heating element is controlled by separate controllers to regulate the specimen temperature. In Bluehill® 3.51 you can set independent set-points for these controllers and start the test once the desired temperatures are achieved.

Point of intersection calculation

Until now you had to use some high school math to find the point of intersection of any two slopes or modulus lines. Now we have a calculation that takes any two modulus or slope calculation items and automatically finds the point of intersection. Though small this is an example of our commitment to simplifying the software for easier setup and operation.

More predefined geometries

In 3.31 we enabled users to create their own expression for cross sectional area for specimens with non-standard geometries. However for pipe sections (commonly used in metals testing) with large thickness to radius ratio this expression can be pretty long. So we added pipe and tube sections to the list of predefined geometry types. We also added a bolt fastener type geometry to the list.

New Modulus Results

Modulus calculation involves fitting a straight line to data points. The quality of the fit can be determined using two new metrics: standard deviation and correlation coefficient. These metrics were included not only in anticipation of changes to major international standards but also to help our customers establish variation in the quality of material being tested.